The CineTopia Top Ten - Sequels That Actually Worked

SPECIAL SCHEMBRI NOTE: Holy sequel, Batman! A deluge of great comments, suggestions, alternative lists and jokes. They are all up, with full responses and ceaseless defenses for including Transformers 2. Please keep your thoughts and suggestions coming. Thank you. - Jim S

The advent of Iron Man 2 reminds us of something we know all too well, that quickly made follow-ups to successful films are little more than opportunistic cash-in exercises designed to sell popcorn and disappoint fans of the first film. A weak sequel is the cinematic equivalent of over-used carbon copy paper, or diluted wine, or cookies that have chips made of carob instead of chocolate.

But if anything in this world is certain, if history has taught us anything it's that not all sequels suck. In fact, a really good sequel can not only match the quality of its predecessor, it can surpass it and often breathe life into a dying franchise.

The general rule of thumb is that the best sequels are planned before the first film is released and is designed to continue the story rather than merely exploit the brand for naked capital gain. A prime example of this was the Back to the Future trilogy, which was conceived as one three-part narrative.

There are plenty of bad sequels, of course. So many, in fact, that the term "sequelitis" is now commonly used to describe those sub-standard works that often appear to have been designed by studio accountants. Iron Man 2 certainly smells like an example of this cynical mindset.

But it is healthier to maintain a positive mental attitude when discussing sequels. So, in tribute to those follow-up movies that did the first movie proud, we hereby present...

CineTopia's Top Ten Sequels That Actually Worked.

1. Godfather, Part II (1974). Easily the greatest sequel ever made. It not only advanced the story of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) and his criminal empire, but filled in the backstory of his father (Robert DeNiro). If Shakespeare was alive and writing screenplays, this is the sort of film he would have come up with.

2. The Empire Strikes Back (1980). If Godfather II taught the audience to have faith that sequels could deliver, the Star Wars sequel showed that they could be trusted. The film broke new ground with its pioneering special effects and evolved the saga beyond the comic book feel of the first film by delivering a literate, morally complex story that entranced the masses.

3. The Dark Knight (2008).Batman Begins reignited the franchise, but TDK proved that sequels do not have to be dumbed down to have global blockbuster appeal. Featuring an intricate story rich with themes about moral choice and the twisted psychology of the criminal mind, the film took over a billion dollars - a powerfully demonstrating that the adult demographic was anything but marginal.

4. Aliens (1986). James Cameron helped define how satisfying a sequel could be by turning what could have been a throwaway movie cheeseburger into a dramatically resonant sci-fi action classic. The film earned Sigourney Weaver an Oscar nomination and gave us the classic line "Get away from her, you bitch".

5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). Cameron did it again, buffing out his time-travelling cyborg premise from the classic 1984 original with a huge budget and ground-breaking digital effects. Given the film's well-considered ruminations about nuclear war, the evils of technology and personal responsibility, T2 could be regarded as the most expensive and popular art film of all time.

6. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982). After the bloated bore of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) nobody expected the franchising of the classic TV series to continue. But life-long Trekkie Nicholas Meyer breathed life back into the series by discarding the pretentious waffle of the first film and sticking to the basic appeal of space battles and male rivalry.

7. Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990). Proof that self-parody works a treat, director Joe Dante stuck his tongue deep inside his cheek for this terrific joke-laden stab at his own surprise success with the first one. The film was so good, even Hulk Hogan was funny.

8. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002). Even diehard fans agreed - The Phantom Menace sucked. Thankfully, George Lucas agreed. Using critiques of Phantom Menace as his guide, he designed Clones to redress the ponderous tone of the first film by delivering killer action sequences and so signal to his fanbase that he would not abuse the faith they had shown in the brand - which was the only thing that accounted for the success of Episode I. It all paid off, and paved the way for Revenge of the Sith, the best of the prequels.

9. Toy Story 2 (1999). Originally designed for a straight-to-video release, Pixar guru John Lasseter and his A-team of artists were so horrified at how badly their unsupervised B-team were handling the film they took it over, wrote a new script from scratch over one weekend and hit gold with a non-stop adventure that developed the characters in new and surprising ways.

10. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009). Despite almost universally terrible reviews, Michael Bay's crash-bang sequel took well over $800 million at the box office because it followed the One Big Rule of blockbuster sequels - give the audience what they liked the first time around, squared. In its own special way the film serves as an exaggerated example of what all good sequels should do. By amplifying this crucial principle so clearly, Transformers II does qualify as a neo-classic - though of a very particular sort.

Questions

What do you think of this list? What quality sequels have we missed? And given that bad sequels out-number good ones by factor of 10-to-1, we can't, in all conscience, lock out discussion of bad sequels. So what dud sequels have made you wish for the ultimate destruction of all life on this planet? And which ones just ticked you off?

...it was all good until you listed Star Trek, Star Wars and Transformers. Transformers 2 got it all wrong - endless action but it was poorly edited, directed and storyboarded action. It was so dull it hurt to watch.

I'd agree with the others, though. Cameron really showed how to do it with Aliens - seamless character development from movie to movie and really captured the feeling that they were two and the same movie and not two different films stuck onto eachother.

The Empire Strikes Back took everything that worked with Star Wars and did it better, but it also took its weaknesses and worked on them - it developed the characters above the cardboard cutouts they were in the original, captured more emotional conflict rather than the juvenile rosy feel of the first and pretty much managed to create great drama to go along with all the action and excitement.

Shoot me down but I have never seen the second Godfather. The first is, well, rather magnificent though.

As a suggestion, I always liked The Temple of Doom more than Raiders, and all of the Die Hard sequels are brilliant and uphold what the series' most important values. The Bourne Ultimatum is also my favourite of that trilogy - really captured the thrills of being constantly hunted and escaping.

Schembri note: Gasp. You liked Godfdather - but haven't seen Godfather 2? Guess what you'll be doing as soon as you can! Cameron certainly deserves his two slots on the list. And people think I'm unfair to him. Shame shame.

Posted by: James on April 29, 2010 8:20 PM

"I love it when a plan comes together!" ... I'm not sure if some cigar-chompin' ex-TV exec, turned movie mogul said that or a cigar-chompin' ageing ex-movie star turned TV hero gun for hire did, ... but I like it!

What a great list!!

Must disagree on the 'Back to the Future' reference though, pretty sure that the first film was made before any thoughts of 2 and 3 were conceived. Those last two films were made in tandem, (following the Alexander Salkind method of fiscally responsible film-making - more on him later) however, 2 I thought was far too dark while 3 tied up the story-arc quite nicely, perhaps even too nicely.

Very pleased to see 'Star Trek - Wrath of Khan' make the list, the first photon battle between the Enterprise and the Reliant still gives me gooseflesh - especially when the Reliant just misses hitting the Enterprise as it peels off the attack.

For a movie where the two leads never actually meet, it's a great piece of film-making.

I haven't seen 'Gremlins 2', so will reserve my omnipotent judgment on that choice, but I can't pass up the chance to throw up again on another reference to 'Tranny-Too - Oh how the Bay has Fallen'.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, it took squillions of cash and sent zillions of pre-teens and poor, misguided grand-parents into years of aural therapy but seriously Jim is this travesty still going to keep making your best-ofs?

I get that this list was possibly inspired by the release of 'Iron Man 2', but methinks it's really just a cunning plan of yours to sneak a mention of 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen', (see I can be polite) directed by Michael Bay, back up on the ether.

Although it is good to see Jim Cameron getting two mentions in this list - which is his just desserts, both of the central storylines in 'Aliens' & 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' were an amazing reworking of top-notch source material.

My Quality Sequels That Rock:

'From Russia with Love' - proved that JB was not just a one hit wonder with a falafel, er Walther PPK.

'Superman 2' - Producer Alexander Salkind and his team made Supe 1 & 2 back to back to cover the cost of making us believe a man could fly! Still the best!

'Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior' - isn't it incredible what a few extra dollars, damned OPEC and a FERAL KID with a boomerang can do for your world-wide box office receipts.

Immensely sad that Byron Kennedy was lost on this project - who knows what Oz films may have been like if his creative influence was allowed to continue to this day.

'First Contact' - the first sequel in the Star Trek Next Gen. series. Even though it was directed by Jonathon Frakes, it was like 'Wrath of Khan' in that its energy, action and ideas were highly entertaining; and frankly I just love it when a Federation Starship Captain goes Postal and starts blasting everything within photon-phaser range!!!

'Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade', spectacular casting of sean Connery,(James Bond) as the father of Indy - third film I know, but something had to be done to fix the darkness that was 'Temple of Doom', far too grim and Indy was at times not very likeable - just proves that almost ALL PREQUELS ARE A REALLY BAD IDEA!

'Lethal Weapon 2' - a return to form after a surprise action hit. Loved the fact the bad guys were odious white South African Embassy dudes running drugs and getting busted by cops lead by Danny Glover. Especially loved the plot twist on the death of Riggs's wife.

First major US mainstream film I reckon to take on Apartheid as an issue of conscience in its storyline.

I have one or two more stuck behind the back of the couch but I'll just throw out 'Die Hard 2 - Die Harder' cos I know it still gets bad press.

I really like this film and am genuinely baffled by the vitriol it inspires, even though I know it was originally written as a stand alone action film, based on a non-McClane book and quickly retooled to capitialise on the success of the first film ... nahh, doesn't bother me - it's still a great movie, action packed with bad guys, packed full of holes by Bruce Willis,
with a killer deadline and some great one-liners - most of them delivered by one-time US Presidential hopeful Fred Dalton Thompson.

I'll leave you with a sequel I reckon should never have been made - 'RoboCop 2', hated this film, kid was evil and creepy, story was cwap and really sorry to see that a genuine classic action film with biting social satire became known as simply the first film in a tedious series of wannabees.

GhostSwirv over and out of patience with the cat, who wants letting in again and refuses to use the cat door, something about not wanting to head butt perspex!?!

How hard can it be - if a T-1000 can do it in 'T2' to a helicopter windshield in mid-flight, wait a minute, mmmmmmmmmmmm, now where's that darned cat and where's that darned remote - stay tuned!

Schembri note: Brilliant stuff - but I'll never apologise for including Tran2. I think I make the case pretty clear in the comment why it's included, so it's included out of a sense of genuine fairness rather than a mere indulgence. It's huge popularity counts for something and, again, highlights the disconnect that often exists between film reviewers and normal people.

Please see Gremlins 2. Re cat. Don't get me started!

Posted by: GhostSwirv on April 29, 2010 9:52 PM

I've seen all of the above except for 'Transformers', and I don't plan on seeing it or its predecessor. As I've said before about 'Avatar', I may think the films are complete twaddle, but one cannot discount that they're appealing to lots of people and therefore making shitloads of money for their creators - something I'm aiming to do, but without such crap writing.

I also disagree that 'Revenge of the Sith' was the best of the prequels: the writing was terrible, the acting was as wooden as ever, and the fact that Master Yoda couldn't sniff out the grand conspiracy was just laughable!

To your list I might add:

- 'The Two Towers' - while 'Return of the King' had bigger and more battle sequences, this film had Ents going berserk and wreaking havoc. How can you possibly beat that?!?!

And a list of sequels that can't compete with the first film of the series, but are still enjoyable nonetheless:

I must stop there, because recalling all these bad films is making my head cave in.

Schembri note: I liked Predator 2, which as well as being a terific action film was notable for casting a black man as an action lead, the first major Hollywood studio film to do so. Great shout outs for Temple of Doom and Magnum force - and Grease 2, a film Michelle Pfeiffer wishes she could white out from her CV!

Posted by: BrendanB on April 29, 2010 10:05 PM

Hi Jim,

I agree on your list for the most part, that is except for your inclusion of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Although the word is that Iron Man 2 isn't great, I'm sure the audience will be happy and the film will make bucketloads. That shouldn't be enough to put it on a best of list which follows your reasoning for Transformers 2. I think Spiderman 2 was a much better film than Transformers 2 and did all the things you mentioned.

Some others to throw into the mix (ignoring the 3rd film in a series or prequels):
- Before Sunset
- X-Men 2

Love the blog,

Ryan

Schembri note: Back at ya, Ryan. I'm a sucker for Transformers 2, I openly confess. I'll take all the slings and arrows. It's the price you pay for the luxury of honesty!

Posted by: Ryan Hamilton on April 29, 2010 10:09 PM

jim,

I'm not sure I understand your criteria. The first few seem to be there on quality. Then there are some, Attack of the Clones and Transformers 2, that seem to be on there because they did well at the box office (not because of quality). Also, I remember you being not all that impressed with TDK, 2.5 stars perhaps, why the turnaround?

Anyway, sequels that worked and were good films without necessarily being great or matching the first film (and not in your list) :

French Connection 2

Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum

Spiderman 2 (best of the bunch)

28 Weeks Later (better than the original IMHO)

2046 (this really is a sequel to In the Mood For Love)

Batman Returns

Bride of Frankenstein

Election 2 (Johnnie To)

Hellboy 2 (also better than the original)

Sanjuro

Dawn of the Dead

Mad Max 2 (way better than original)

Schembri note: The comments make it very clear why Transformers 2 and Clones are on the list, surely. My three star (Very Good) rating for TDK complained mainly that I felt the film was too long. But regardless of one's opinion, you have to appreciate what that film achieved. That's a matter of demonstrable fact, not opinion, and you can't deny accomplishment just because you thought it was 30 minutes too long! Besides, re-viewing a film on DVD through your home theatre - which is a different format to seeing it in the cinema - can enhance one's appreciation of a film.

Great list, Nit. French Connection 2 - of course! A brilliant ending to the Popeye Doyle story.

Posted by: nitin on April 29, 2010 11:16 PM

And I thought I was the only person that enjoyed Transformers 2 (and even worse, is looking forward to the third instalment).

But that's the thing: I love sequels. Particularly to big loud over the top movies with larger than life characters. Because I feel these characters and stories are too big to be left in the isolation of one movie.

Schembri note: We're brothers, you and I. Transformers 3 - bring it! I don't think you can count Bond films that are send films for new Bonds because they're not really sequels, yeah? Bourne 2 is a good inclusion. Great stuff, Lachy.

Posted by: LachyW on April 29, 2010 11:26 PM

if they'd cut down the 30 min sequence with Popeye becoming an addict to about 10 min (it brought the movie to a standstill), I'd almost put it up there with the first one.

Schembri note: I agree that sequence went on too long - but that old lady still gives me the creeps when she nicks Popeye's watch. Old hag.

Posted by: nitin on April 30, 2010 12:09 AM

Where's Mad Max 2? Easily a far superior film to Mad Max, and one of the very best ever made in this country.

Schembri note: How could we miss that film yet include Transformers 2? Somebody call the...movie police?

Posted by: mosh on April 30, 2010 12:19 AM

There is one that is missed, another that should be added depending on the definition of "sequel", one that should be considered and one that really jumped the shark (while it jumped around the room with the camera quite literally!!!)

The one missed: Superman 2 (Christopher Reeve). Brilliant and upstaged the original for sure.

The other missed depending on definition of "sequel" is Red Dragon. One of the most underrated, but brilliantly conceived and constructed sequel with a stunning opening. It's a sequel as it was made after Silence of the Lambs, but a prequel in terms of story line. given Hannibal was a disaster, it was astounding that such a brilliant prequel emerged after.

The one that should be considered is Die Hard with a Vengence. There was something so "fun" about that film and I'll always regard it is a magnificent sequel.

Bourne Identity remains one of the most brilliant films of recent times in its genre. But Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum suffered from a change of director who seemed unable to film a scene without jumping around with a handheld camera or zooming in and out irritatingly. It ruined them, especially considering that both sequels had decent story lines.

Schembri note: By sequel, we mean the first follow up, So Die Hard 3, not so much. And Red DRagon...hmmm. A prequel really, surely. As for Supe2, I think I'm the only one who wasn't a fan. My cross.

Posted by: sequ1 on April 30, 2010 12:21 AM

I would like to see the following sequels:

Magnolia 2
Big Lebowski 2
Heat 2
Apocalypto 2
THE ROCK 2

But I guess it's too late.

Schembri note: I vote for Big Lebowski 2. The Dude Abides - Again!

Posted by: Sarunas on April 30, 2010 12:27 AM

Definitely think the Bourne series, Austin Powers and Shrek should be in there.

Schembri note: They are now!

Posted by: Michael on April 30, 2010 12:28 AM

Titanic 2.... Just wait for it, there's money to made yet.

Schembri note: Check out the 4-disk special edition. Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn actually pitch a sequel to Cameron!

Posted by: Eliot on April 30, 2010 1:00 AM

I liked Pirates of the Caribbean 2 better than the first..Loved the Canibal Island thing. The big wheel thing. Funny.
The Mummy Returns was a good sequel.. when I say good, I mean, I heart Oded Fehr.

I'm with you on the Transformers 2. I liked it. I could happily slap MFox though. Here's hoping she gets squished by a rogue autobot next time round.

The hours I spent watching White Noise 2 (Whiter and Noisyer??) Lost Boys:The Tribe and The Excorcist 2, I wont ever get back. And that..is a tragedy.

As a diehard Back to the Future fan, I just wanted to point out that you are mistaken about the trilogy being pre-conceived from the beginning.

The original theatrical release of the film simply ended with the DeLorean driving toward the camera, then cut straight to the credits. It was only after the movie went to VHS did the studio or someone added the "To be continued", which (from an interview or commentary I've heard) led to Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale wondering what they were supposed to do next.

Whatever they wrote initially for the sequel had to be tossed after Crispin Glover demanded too much money to reprise his role of George McFly, so what we see now, while great, was never intended and then worked around the abscence of one of the main actors.

Schembri note: Thank you, Simone. You are quite right. We've left the copy as is out of Catholic guilt so we can keep qall the corrections. My bad. But that's what's good about this forum.

Posted by: Simone on April 30, 2010 1:40 AM

I like the list except for a couple, the first one is purely the fact i am not a Trekkie and never will be. The second is big fan of the original star wars not so much the newer movies, but i have to say glad they finished the story!!

I don't mind toy story 2 being in there but there are a few animated sequels i feel that are of equal or close value eg Shrek, Ice Age and Madagascar.

Now to the part I get to suggest some for consideration, granted most may have been already suggested but i think a few have not:

Just for the record, I agree with Transformers 2 being on the list and i don't think Clerks II should be on the worst sequel list unless your not a fan of the original and Kevin Smiths work!!

Thats my thoughts, but if i was actually to sit down and just have 10 it would be very hard!!! nice work

Schembri note: THANK YOU for the Transformers 2 support. And Magnum force - god, a GREAT sequel. We have to do another list.

Posted by: Peter on April 30, 2010 2:06 AM

Funny how no one remembers Matrix, I am looking forward to Ip Man 2, the preview looks very good!

Schembri note: Matrix Reloaded. Beaut film.

Posted by: Jeff on April 30, 2010 2:12 AM

Same you've lost me at number 10. The sequel to Transformers was less than brilliant. It dragged on and on. What about the first 3 Indiana Jones films or Rocky II?

Schembri note: Indy2, sure. Rocky 2, not so much.

Posted by: Niles on April 30, 2010 2:38 AM

What about Wayne's World 2??? classic!!

Schembri note: Agree. and we will not bow to pressure from any sponsor.

Posted by: Topher on April 30, 2010 2:50 AM

Props to most of this, but have to disagree on attack of the clones... thought it was rubbish... in a fun enough kind of way.

What about all the films in the Antoine Doinel series? They're French, admittedly, but so good!

Teen Wolf 2? No, you're probably right.

Schembri note: Oh, we were having such a good time. Why did you go and bring the French into it?

Posted by: Hugh on April 30, 2010 2:57 AM

"A prime example of this was the Back to the Future trilogy, which was conceived as one three-part narrative."

I'd wager you have not watched the special features on the DVDs...

Co-writers Bob Gale and Robert Zemekis both say they had no forethought about a sequel, and in fact felt like they were in a real jam with the way they ended the first film when it came to writing the sequel (which they only did because the first was so popular).

Don't agree at all about SW Ep II, I thought all 3 were bad but II was the worst.

Not sure too many would agree with me, but Temple of Doom is up there with my worst sequels of all time. Raiders and Last Crusade are two of my favourite films, but Temple is just full of annoying stereotypes. The female lead is so annoying that it pretty much sucks any possible joy out of the film. Helpless blonde idiot characters have not aged well I'm afraid...

Scehmbri note: B2TF 2&3 were conceived as one. Must check out them extras. Thank you.

Posted by: TimR31 on April 30, 2010 3:31 AM

Good list but Attack of the Clones should not be anywhere near the top 10. Can it be considered a good sequel simply because it was less bad than the previous movie? Surely it has to be a good movie to begin with?

You mentioned Back to The Future in your intro but it didn't make the list. Should have IMO.

As for biggest let-down sequels, Matrix Reloaded would have to go close.

Schembri note: Love the "less bad" point. And you're not the only one to make it.

Posted by: Joel on April 30, 2010 4:12 AM

I certainly agree with 'Godfather II' and 'The Empire Strikes Back'. 'Empire' is easily the best of the series because it doesn't just rehash the original 'Star Wars' � it has a totally different plot, new theme music (The Imperial March), a daring plot twist and doesn't feel over-produced in the way the prequels do (they feel like computer games).

'28 Weeks Later' is like 'Aliens' to '28 Days Later''s 'Alien'. There are some scenes such as the carpet bombing of Docklands or the shots of a dark, empty and abandoned London which are truly creepy.

'Hannibal' is the most under-rated sequel. Ridley Scott doesn't replicate the original 'Silence of the Lambs' � he turns the film into a black comedy/Gothic horror.

'Aliens'. If you see it in the longer Director's Cut version it's a terrific, scary and exciting film that ( like 'Empire') doesn't just rehash the original but manages to be just as good whilst being totally different.

The 'Harry Potter' series gets better with each successive film. The older Harry gets, the darker the films become.

The worst sequels are those which are made a long, long time after the original. In this list I'd include 'Texasville' (the long forgotten sequel to 'Last Picture Show', made 19 years after the original), 'Gregory's Two Girls', 'Escape from Los Angeles', 'An American Werewolf in Paris', 'Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles' and 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'. 'Wall Street 2' is due soon � a mere 23 years after the original � and my hopes aren't high.

I'm also fascinated by sequels that were planned and never made. Whatever happened to 'Roger Rabbit II: Toon Platoon', or the third parts of the 'Star Wars' trilogies (telling of the events after 'Return of the Jedi')? Guy Ritchie's 'Rock N Rolla' ends with a promise the gang will return in 'The Real Rock N Rolla' but there are no plans to make that movie.

Scehmbri note: One of the most literate responses thus far. Thank you, Dan. Nice shout out for Hannibal - "okey dokey", is Hannibal related to Ned Flanders? Just putting it out there. - and we share your anxiety over Wall Street 2. Could be good, though!

Posted by: Dan Ashcroft on April 30, 2010 4:42 AM

Hands down, my number one fantasy sequel... Withnail and I 2.

Schembri note: Don't get me started! You'd have to set it present day, yeah?

Posted by: Matt M on April 30, 2010 5:20 AM

Attack of the Clones???

"Not abuse the faith they (the fans) had shown in the brand?"

Holy crap, Jim. That movie is a disaster. One of the most beloved filmmakers of all time has become a sad joke to his fanbase because of those prequels.

Schembri note: Like Vader, Lucas redeemed himself with Clones and Sith. Hmm. Vader's arc actually parallels Lucas quite nicely, now that I think about it.

Posted by: ben on April 30, 2010 6:05 AM

Ok - I had to admit that I enjoyed Transformers too! I loved the cartoons and the movies.... "aren't bad". But I also feel the same about Iron Man 2. Haven't seen the sequel yet - will probably catch it this weekend - but I think it's all about nostalgia for me at this point! I can't wait for them to bring our War Machine.

Better still, I'm waiting for the Ed Norton Hulk - RDJ Iron Man collboration at some point as the Hulk so eluded to. If you're a Justice League cartoon fan, watch out for Justice League: Mortal which is mean to be coming out at some point with Megan Gale as Wonder Woman ;)

Boy I'm such a geek.

Schembri note: You're a geek? I got outed live on 3AW because I have three lap tops. So I'm with you, brother.

Posted by: ness on April 30, 2010 6:11 AM

As one of the highest earning films at the box office, I don't understand why they didn't make a Titanic 2 yet?

Schembri note: Just wait, mate.

Posted by: danm on April 30, 2010 7:07 AM

Superman II (More concise and more in line with the comic book legend)
Psycho II (although not a classic like the original, it certainly played with some fantastic ideas)
Scream II (The polar opposite of the original opening - death in a public place - supports my theory that Wes & Kevn are brilliant)

Schembri note: Hmm. Psycho 2 was good, wasn't it. 22 years on, it still worked. So did the little seen Psycho 3.

Posted by: Ben Ripley on April 30, 2010 7:12 AM

dude, you forgot the 2 greatest sequels.

Evil Dead 2
Colour of Money.

Schembri note: Both great. I admit, leaving out Color of Money was a disgrace. A terrific film, and one of Tom Cruise's best.

Posted by: alottachina on April 30, 2010 7:15 AM

madagascar 2.

Schembri note: Good film.

Posted by: sequelite on April 30, 2010 7:36 AM

Transformers 2 was just about the WORST movie ive ever seen.

I love action movies and thought the first Transformers was brilliant. However, number 2 was worse than Vanilla Sky. by a MASSIVE margin.

I dont know anyone who liked no.2.

Thats almost as bad as saying Predator 2 was better than the original.

Schembri note: Oh, be nice. Predator 2 was cool.

Posted by: benny on April 30, 2010 7:41 AM

Hmm.....you were doing alright for the first half, but then dropped it completely on the second half, so that's just barely a pass.

As has been mentioned, no Mad Max 2, no Hellboy 2 and I prefered Predator 2 to the first one.

Back to the future 2, according to an article in the latest Empire magazine was indeed an afterthought, although the second and third ones were made at the same time.

This seems to be the go. See how the first one goes and then make two sequels if it works.

Schembri note: They originally planned B2TF 2 and 3 as one film, then decided to go the deuce. We might do a supplementary list, given all the objections!

Posted by: Iconoclast on April 30, 2010 7:46 AM

Loving the controversy.

Actually, I think that Transformers 2 was better shot than the first (query whether this term can be used when the only things that the camera ever saw were the actors). I think this is because the visual perspective was a bit further away from the action, allowing one to follow it. Although perhaps my liking for the film is linked to the fact that it spawned this brilliant review: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1JvGfs/io9.com/5301898/michael-bay-finally-made-an-art-movie%3Fskyline%3Dtrue%26s%3Di

Pure unobtanium.

I agree with your theory on Attack of the Clones, although I must say that Phantom Menace set the bar so low that even a myopic, stumbling, subterranean creature like Clones could sneak over it.

Great call to all those that mentioned Last Crusade - very rare that the third film in a series is that good.

I'm not completely certain what you hated so much about Iron man 2, but it was clearly not going to be a one movie franchise.

This is self evident in both the ending of the film, the brief scene with Nick Fury after the credits have rolled and the crossover that has Tony Stark appearing at the end of the Hulk sequel.

Iron Man 2 was almost, if not, just as good as the first movie, it never left out character for action (unlike transformers 2) and clearly kept its intelligence.

The top 10 list also has a glaring contradiction which (amusingly) has to be drawn from a conversation taken from the movie Scream 2 near the start where they are discussing, oh so self referentially, the success of sequels.

The empire strikes back, and now, the attack of the clones are not sequels as they were always part of a trilogy.

I agree with the list otherwise, but Gremlins 2? seriously? sure, gremlins 3 would be awesome, but not the rubbish, this-movie-was-dreamed-up-by-movie-execs-in-an-office-building.

Get Joe Dante back and make it black again. Face off Gizmo and Stripe with lines like...

I understand the reasoning but just can't bring myself to put Transformers 2 on the list... and the Star Wars prequels, well lets not go there. Kudos to you Jim for shamelessly backing your favourites though!

If I may indulge similarly, I'd have to agree with the addition of From Russia with Love (far superior to Dr No and still one of the best Bond films ever) and Lethal Weapon 2 (Mel Gibson + angst + guns, karate and bad guys = win!).

I can live with Supes 2 being added to the list but only if we're talking the (absolutely brilliant) Donner cut, which, when taken with the original, was the second of a two-parter planned and filmed in one go. Donner left the production before the release of the 2nd movie after a falling out with the producers. What replacement director Richard Lester did to it was a travesty.

Schembri note: And his other films are so great. Thanks for your understanding on Tranny2.

Posted by: Viv on April 30, 2010 8:29 AM

"So what dud sequels have made you wish for the ultimate destruction of all life on this planet? And which ones just ticked you off?"

Theres a scene with the 'Brain' Gremlim, talking to a news reporter, and when asked what the gremlins want, he replies: (paraphrasing) "We want to get out! see the sights! There's the street crime, I believe we can see that for free."
caps it off with: "All we want, Is your civiliiiisaaaation..."

And the Bugs and Daffy cameos..the batman reference...wasn't Grampa from the munsters in it too?
Great film.

Superman 2! "Kneel before Zod!"
The Bourne Films have been fun, I agree.
Oceans 12 for an example of a bad sequel.

Again Jim, great blog, great list! Although, in hindsight, I'm not sure I agree with Attack of the Clones. Including that on the list is a bit like saying a punch in the guts is better than a kick in the nuts. :)

Scehmbri note: A very fair comparison! Check out Gremlins 2 on DVD. It's crazy. You can get both films in the one set. They really should do a third.

Posted by: Symon on April 30, 2010 9:30 AM

You deserve all you get for Transformers 2.

Having that and not Mad Max 2 is diabolical.

Star Wars episode 2? That movie made up for nothing! Have you blocked out the laughable love story? If you haven't seen it, check out Mr Plinkett's review on youtube. Sums up it's utter awfulness very succintly (and that's 70 minutes worth of succintness - it's just that awful).

Schembri note: Transformers 2 - it's my cross.

Posted by: Pete on April 30, 2010 9:42 AM

Porkys 2... a classic that is too often overlooked. And... I'm still waiting for Adam Sandler to make a sequel to Happy Gilmore !

Schembri note: If there's a buck in it, he'll do it.

Posted by: Johnny on April 30, 2010 9:46 AM

"Somebody call the...movie police?"
Unfortunately Leonard Maltin is now out of commission due to gremlin attacks. I loved Gremlins 2, especially for Christopher Lee's mad scientist - perfect casting.
I never saw, nor will ever see, Transformers 2, so while I will disagree with its listing, I admit I cannot fully appreciate what you found to be list-worthy; in fact, it's the only one on your list I haven't seen.
I agree with Superman 2 equaling its predecessor, and you know what, I loved the Richard Donner Cut as well, being on par (at times better) than the original release.
Predator 2 was good. The first was better, but I liked the sequel, and we can all agree it (as well as the 3rd & 4th Alien films) were better than the AVP misfires. Lets hope Predators can meet that minimum safe standard.
Robocop 2 was decent, although I admit when I was young and even now I thought the story could be improved; Robocop 3 is unforgivable.
Attack of the Clones was marginally better than The Phantom Menace, but to this day I cringe at the "romance" scenes; a far cry from Han and Leia's bond to be sure. Should it make the list? Maybe not.
So here are two films I would replace Episode II and ROTF with:
8. The Road Warrior - as mentioned in previous posts, taking Mad Max one step beyond into post-apocalyptic world of chaos with a gritty story of courage and survival.
10. Desperado - the sequel to El Mariachi, keeping the spirit of an independent film while enriching the story, the characters and making the action much more elaborate and exciting.

Schembri note: No way is Superman 2 as good as Superman! Somebody back me!

Posted by: George on April 30, 2010 9:48 AM

Right like everyone here, I thought transformers 2 in this list was a joke, that film was awful awful awful. Jim, you complained TDK was too long and Transformers 2 went for NEARLY THREE HOURS.

Good call on Gremlins 2 though.

I also have another grievence with this list, its controversial, but its... Aliens.

I only saw this for the first time recently. I'd seen the others (all out of sequence) and the only reason I visited this one was because people kept telling me it was the best film in the series, which it was, but I just thought that whole "saga" of films was a big pile of balls.

And before people tell me "oh it was made in the 80s so you know the effects are probably dated." I liked the special FXs!

I just thought it wasn't a good story, so much potential with the whole kid story line, but wasted, why didn't it eat her? And instead take her back to the nest? Is a human child a better incubator than an adult? IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE! Sorry. Just an opinion. Probably rubbish.

What about Wayne's World 2 anyone!?

Schembri note: There have been a lot of shout outs for WW2. Transformers 2, I'll just have to live with the slings and arrows. It earns its place on the list, though.

Posted by: buc on April 30, 2010 9:52 AM

Two sequels from the seventies.

One of the best:

"The Pink Panther Strikes Again" (1976)

One of the worst:

"Beyond The Poseidon Adventure" (1979)

Schembri note: Sally Field and Michael Caine - their finest screen moment! And they needed money.

Posted by: Brian on April 30, 2010 9:56 AM

Parenthetically, The Silence of the Lambs was itself a sequel to the film Manhunter, which was the original incarnation of Red Dragon (in some releases, it was even retitled Red Dragon). So the Hopkins Red Dragon is both a prequel and a remake.
Ergo, The Silence of the Lambs could be construed as list-worthy.

Schembri note: Taking a shot here, but I'd bet money you'd be the only person in the world who considers Silence of the Lambs as a sequel! Hannibal was a sequel, surely.

Posted by: George on April 30, 2010 10:18 AM

My additions:

Spider-Man 2: We could still feel the insane geek-love Sam Raimi has for all things Spidey here. Took number one, gave us one of the truly great Spider-villains in Doc Ock and turned it up to 11. The fight on the side of the skyscraper is pure superhero gold.

The Bourne Supremacy: What was that about going up to 11? This blew the meters. One of the few films where shakey-cam action worked well, the fights were short, sharp, and visceral, so being in the thick of it made it feel even more intense. Great modern action film-making.

Mad Max 2: This is the iconic 'Road Warrior' scenario for a reason. It even coined the name.

From Russia With Love: This and Goldfinger made Bond, James Bond into a franchise. Probably my favourite Bond adventure.

Schembri note: Supremacy was great. Re Mad Max 2, in my defense, I guess the reason I overlooked Road Warrior was that so many people didn't see it as a sequel. When it was released in the States to huge acclaim, almost nobody had seen Mad Max. And it does stand alone as a movie. It's still a sequel though, Jim. You're trying to squirm out of it.

Posted by: Pylades on April 30, 2010 10:19 AM

I disagree with people adding Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers and Return of the King. Neither of the films should be considered sequels as they're part of one narrative. A really, really long story but still a singular one.

I'm putting my vote in for Batman Returns. We get a far more interesting exploration of what it means to have secret identity and what it's doing to Bruce Wayne. Sure, they mess around with the back stories for the villians (Oswald Cobblepot wasn't dumped by his uber-rich parents and Selina Kyle would never in a million years be someone's PA) but it works for the film and that's all that matters. Plus, Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman!! Meow!!!

Good Gravy, Mr. Schembri! I almost spat my instant coffee at the screen when I reached the bottom of this list.

Transformers 2 was such an offense there should be a fundamentalist religion created for the sole purpose of instituting a God or Pantheon to be slighted, and a righteous flock gathered to enact some sort of fatwa against those responsible for it.

Don't get me wrong, I WANTED to like it. Like you say, it tried to deliver what we liked the first time, but FAILED MISERABLY. Comic touches became cringe-worthy and painfully self-indulgent. Amusing stereotypes in the first became so banal and 2-dimensional they threatened to taint the comfortable deployments in the first. Transformers themselves seemed to move aimlessly and with surprisingly little impact, even when supposedly fighting each other to the death, and especially when stalking humans. Megan Fox straddled stuff and mixed damsel in distress who needs her average guy with enough tough cookie to balance it out, but seemed to be running and panting and looking panicky more than say, having some semblance to a believable character in this one...

...it was all just so wrong it made me run to my room, fling myself on my bed and cry into my pillow lamenting "Optimuuuus...what have they done?... WAAAAAh...Optimuuuuus...OPTIMUS!! NOOOOO!"

Support the Before Sunset suggestion above for a reverent and loyal sequel.

LachyW - I'm also a fan of Ang's Hulk. Consider it extremely underrated.

Schembri note: Another bitch slap for Schembri over Tranny2. He deserves it.

Posted by: Danny K. on April 30, 2010 10:47 AM

I hate to be a stereotypical nerd nitpicker, Meyer had never seen an episode of Star Trek when he was approached for Khan.

I suppose I could list every even-numbered Trek film - yes, even Nemesis, though I think I'm alone there...

Schembri note: I loved Nemesis, weven thought it was so unsuccessful it halted the franchise. What did we say qabout Meyer that you should be nit picking?

Posted by: Nicholas Donaghy on April 30, 2010 10:51 AM

Bad..

why has no-one mentioned Crocodile Dundee 2.

Simply attrocious.

(Number 3 shall never be mentioned again)

Schembri note: After this last time, of course.

Posted by: Clint on April 30, 2010 11:17 AM

If you haven't seen Superman 2: The Richard Donner Cut then check it out, far superior IMO than the theatrical release.

And I agree with whomever it was who thought Hulk was superior to The Incredible Hulk. I think even the CG in Hulk is better than TIH.

Although not exactly a sequel because it's the 3rd instalment but Evil Dead: Army of Darkness, terrific film, loads of fun. Bruce Campbell rocks.

One franchise I was a bit disappointed with was the Jack Ryan sequels, I've always loved Alec Baldwin's version of Ryan in Hunt for Red October. Nothing again'st Harrison Ford, I like him but not his version of Ryan. Shame that Baldwin didn't continue with the role (even superior to Ben Afleck's version as well).

Schembri note: Supe2 was a Richard Lester film, surely. Is that who you mean?

Posted by: I'm Pedro on April 30, 2010 11:17 AM

Empire and Aliens should be inked in on anyone's list. I thought Spiderman 2 and Superman 2 were both fun films as well.

What about Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey? And even Wayne's World 2?

Attack of the Clones was no better than Phantom Menace. Dreadfully disappointing, in my view.

Two absolute shockers: Back to future 2 and of course Matrix 2.

Schembri note: Ooh. There's been a lot of love for Matrix Reloaded, dude.

Posted by: Tim P on April 30, 2010 11:22 AM

I did forget one, X-Men 2, had a great story and probably two of the best scene's; firstly the opening sequence with the attack on the President by Nightcrawler, then Magneto's escape sequence. But the film as a whole was far superior to the first.

Schembri note: Confession: I only liked X3.

Posted by: I'm Pedro on April 30, 2010 11:26 AM

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)..............

wtf? its still a bad movie, but as its less bad than its predecessor its a better sequel? a steaming pile is still a steaming pile.

should have added "For a few dollars more", a ripper only surpassed by the 3rd installment.

Schembri note: That's all cool - but we might have to impose a moritorium on the phrase "WTF?" We heard it 1498 times during Superbad and have become mighty tired of it. People shouldn't express horror and outrage and utter disbelief that somebosy has an opinion different to theirs. Besides, there's already been a movie called WTF. The phrase has had its day.

Posted by: dos on April 30, 2010 11:51 AM

Fist Full of Dollars
A Few Dollars More
The Good the Bad and the Ugly

The Western holy trinity.

Schembri note: Without question.

Posted by: El Marko Cinco on April 30, 2010 11:52 AM

Village Cinemas just emailed me to let me know that 'Wog Boy 2: The Kings of Mykonos' will soon be out. Considering the first film was atrocious, the sequel will either easily surpass the original, or it will be an even more heinous experience. Whichever it is, I won't be seeing it; I wasted enough time and money seeing the first film.

My condolences if you're forced to see it, Jim. I may also be a wog, but that doesn't mean I want to see hackneyed, cliched portrayals of them on the big screen (I can just watch 'Jersey Shore' for that)

Schembri note: Oh, I'll be there for WB2. More to come!

Posted by: BrendanB on April 30, 2010 12:07 PM

Interesting list ... And you are quite generous to some of the sequels (and that can only ever be a personal thing) ... I am completely with you in relation to Aliens (after that forget, in this franchise, it). After having seen Alien as a youngster and having nightmares for a week I toddled off to Aliens ready to be scared s#$tless. How wrong could I have been ... A fast paced, genre flipping, action flick that only slowed down to remind us (the human race) of how crap(insignificant) we really might be in the greater scheme of things. Sigourney Weaver should have been popped in carbonite right about then and kept on ice until the aliens turned up here.

Schembri note: Absolutely. They should burn the negatives of Aliens 3 and 4. The third film should have been the alien making it to earth and causing havoc, as was foreshadowed in aliens. come on, Hollywood!

Posted by: Peter McHardy on April 30, 2010 12:41 PM

Jim you often upset me with your musings and I've been angry at you since your Brokeback Mountain review but all is now forgiven since you've included the brilliant and unsung Gremlins 2 in your list. The "New York, New York" finale itself is worth the watch let alone the myriad of mirth throughout. Comic genius!

Schembri note: You see? You've just expressed, quite beautifully, the central philosophy of this site, which is: It's all about the love.

Posted by: Chris on April 30, 2010 12:54 PM

There is available (somewhere, somehow) a box set of Godfather and Godfather Part II, somewhat siamesed sometime in the late 80s/early 90s, that the critics say is, with some extra footage and mix-match of the originals, the ultimate Godfather experience. I do remember it being on TV at unfortunately exactly the same time that my university Honours thesis was due.

Schembri note: You are talking about the chronological cut Coppola did, which was superb. I reckon you could run those films backwards and they'd still work.

Posted by: Igomi Watabi on April 30, 2010 1:21 PM

Ah Jim,

such nostalgia!

BUT

Every time someone mentions the second batch of Star wars movies, I want to gag.
Such wooden acting from Hayden 'whatsisname' is the stuff of horror movies.
I'm no Trekkie, so...
I never saw Transformers 2, and gauging by the vitriol spewed forth here, not likely to anytime soon.
Liked the first one!
Godfather 2 is brilliant, as is Aliens.
Loved Toy Story 1 & 2.
I couldn't believe how much I liked Iron Man, and now not sure about seeing 2!?
Hard to believe Nightmare on Elm Street 2 didn't get a mention!!??

Schembri note: What can I say? If you haven't seen Tranny2, do so, just so you can say you've seen it and that Schembri has lost his mind including it in a Top Ten Best Sequels list. After all, everyone else has taken a shot. Why shouldn't you? A very thankless job, this. *Sigh.*

Posted by: Hugh Maclean on April 30, 2010 1:22 PM

Cannot, cannot, can-not accept any of the Star Wars prequels - they are all their own form of abysmal. Clones was disjointed and making the camera mobile, along with oscillating from close to far away in a battle scene does not a movie make. And Sith was really a bad star wars film - which makes it the best of the prequels - faint praise indeed. I mean, Vader screaming "Nooooo!!"? WTF? To put any of these travesties, which should be erased from the star wars mythology quicker than the Wookie Christmas Special (which was no worse than any of those films), in a list with Empire Strikes Back is simply perverse.

As for the others, meh, whatever, why not?

Schembri note: Perversity. Nothing wrong with a bit of that, so long as it's legal and both parties are mature and consenting.

Posted by: Paul on April 30, 2010 1:28 PM

Agree with Godfather 2, comments Jim, yet was windy 190 mins (if I remember right) but was still a great film.

Schembri note: Windy and bum-numbing in the cinema maybe, but at home it unspools superbly.

Posted by: Stephens on April 30, 2010 1:29 PM

What about Crocodile Dundee #2? (#3 was poor).

Wrath of Khan is a great Star Trek classic, the others (with exception to the latest "Star Trek") are somewhat too slow to get into.

Schembri note: Croc Dundee 2 wasn't in the list coz, well, it wasn't very good! Oh, hanfg on. I'm thinking of Croc in LA, the third one. Croc Dundee 2 wasn't actually that bad. And it actually had a plot.

Posted by: thats-a-knife! on April 30, 2010 1:33 PM

What about Pirates of the Caribbean #2 (Dead Mans Chest?)

Schembri note: Couldn't stand any of those films. Thought Davy Jones and his Octopus head looked like a squirming orifice.

Posted by: thats-a-knife! on April 30, 2010 1:45 PM

Ok, if we're talking cheesy (we were talking cheesy weren't we?) how about the Tremors trilogy, a great B grade horror/comedy where the creature at the heart of the action actually evolves over the course of the three films. Although the fact that Kevin Bacon jumped ship after the first film may count for something (although I'm not sure what exactly).

Schembri note: Only ever saw the first one, which was fun and riffed on the principle of keeping the monster largely unseen. Will now keep an eye out for the sequels. (not literally).

Posted by: Brett Adam on April 30, 2010 1:46 PM

You lost me with The Dark Knight. Not nearly as wonderful as Batman Begins. Yeah, I know I'm the only one who thinks that. I liked Back To The Future 2, Karate Kid 2 and Home Alone 2, Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom. I am probably also in the minority on those. Oh, well.

Schembri note: Nothing wrong with being in the minority - as I'm finding oput with my favour for Transformers 2! But Home Alone 2? What a dreadful film. I actually wanted the burglars to kill the kid, he was so irritating.

Posted by: Robert Wills on April 30, 2010 1:56 PM

Transformers 2 was unwatchable. If there was ever a case for an off-shoot of Consumer Affairs Victoria that made filmakers refund tickets and DVD rental for movies that are so blantantly just a shake-down rip-off, then Transformers 2 made it.

Agree with nitin, Hellboy 2 was better than the original.
Kill bill I would count as one-movie released in 2 parts.

Also have to mention Evil Dead 2

But apart from Mad Max 2, Croc Dundee 2 and the up coming Wog boy 2 how many Aussie films have spawned sequels ?

Schembri note: There was Storm Boy II - The Reckoning (1983), in which Mr Percival is exposed to radiation and turns into a rampaging monster pelican that eats Adelaide. Though that wasn't widely released. Has anybody else seen it?

Posted by: Paul H on April 30, 2010 2:31 PM

How is the Matrix trilogy not on this list ?

Schembri note: It is now! Reloaded was so cool. Easily one of the best chase sequences ever.

The Lord of the Rings films showed the issues of a single story having to be shown in three parts - the first film did the setup, the last does the closure but the middle film basically just moves the story along - moves it fantastically but it's a movie without an introduction basically (you're expected to watch the first film) and there are no great resolutions, as these are all in the last film. Oh well..

I know you're only doing sequels but Terminator 4 was only good for furthering Sam Worthington's career.

Schembri note: Yeah, we're being a bit strict in that we're talking about first sequels mainly. As for Police Academy 8 - don't scare me. Then again, if Sharon Stone, who was in PA4, shows up for a cameo? I'd like th4em to do a prequel called Police Academy 1912, sort of like a Keystone Kops, but with sound.

Posted by: Geoff Markley on April 30, 2010 3:08 PM

I thought Batman Begins was a terrific introduction to the creation of Batman. The Dark Knight showed Christian Bale's concerned/angered/cardboard cutout acting premise (copyright Keanu Reeves) that he copied for T4 and was a much poorer film for the lack of movement in Bale's character. TDK was an inferior film to BB.

Schembri note: A big call. and that's what we like about it.

Posted by: Geoff on April 30, 2010 3:12 PM

Agree with the others on Transformers 2 - the raping of my childhood (pt 2). The first 45 min I'd give you, but then it just turns into a boring, unwatchable mess. I didn't know wooden carts could have secondary explosions, did you? Even Shia LaBoeuf said it was dreck.

If you're including that, then you should have replaced it with National Treasure 2. Does everything the first one did, with a little more fun. Both popcorn movies - but at least I didn't get bored watching National Treasure 2!

Schembri note: LOVED NT2. and great note on the double-exploding wooden cart. Look, the film was an OTT example of what all good popcorn sequels do. You take everything that worked the first time around and turn it up to 11.

Posted by: Dan on April 30, 2010 3:48 PM

the second half of your top 10 is pretty weak in my opinion. and lol terminator an art house film (picks jaw up off the floor)

Schembri note: Hey, a 50% strike rate. Not bad! And I'm very proud of that T2 line. I've stunned people silent with it. But think of how T2 ends. It's not your usual blockbuster.

Schembri note: I'm with you. I LOVED H&K 2. BHC2, not so much. I thought Die Hard 2 was a mess, then I interviewed director Renny Harlin when he was out here for The Long Kiss Goodnight. He said he agreed, that he had a week to prep the film before shooting!

Posted by: Scott on April 30, 2010 4:06 PM

oh my god.

While most of the list is ok, I simply cannot believe that you would place Attack of the Clones anywhere in any kind of "worth watching" list, other than "how to make an appaling story even worse". Not only was the acting particuarly woeful, or that the writing could have been done better by a failing high school student, but the actual plot line was completely non-sensical. For an extremely in-depth (and very funny) look at all the mistakes that this film makes, I would highly recommend that people go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MYAwEUal7M and for an even funnier examination of all the faults of Phantom menace, you should watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxKtZmQgxrI

Cheers,
Peter

Schembri note: First I get it for including Transformers 2, then I get it for Attack of the Clones. Can somebody throw me a bone here? I'm getting it from all sides.

Posted by: Peter McQuire on April 30, 2010 4:09 PM

A sequel I always enjoyed was Waynes World 2 even though it was probably a"cash in on the surprise success of the first one" type film.
Scream 2 was pretty good for a slasher sequel.
Dare I say it Matrix Reloaded had its moments?

And sorry Jim I am going to join the chorus and disagree on Transformers 2, just because something is popular doesn't mean it's worthwhile; remember Mein Kampf was a best seller!

Schembri note: The mega-popularity of Tran2 proved that it worked, despite what critics thought. The remarks made make it pretty clear why it was included, which went beyond its box office success. Agree that WW2 was huge fun. Schwing!

Posted by: Gerald Hamsandwich on April 30, 2010 4:17 PM

T2 definitely did it for me. The first time I watched it was on Laser Disc, and I had no idea on what the hell was going on in the movie as my English was not very good (I come from Hong Kong, and I was 8 years old). I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, and a few parts actually scared the crap out of me as a kid.

Schembri note: Best line in the film was when Arnie puts on the mini gun and the kid says: "It's you."

Posted by: Vincenzo on April 30, 2010 4:36 PM

empire Strikes Back yes, Attack of the Clowns, no, yes much better than Epsisode 1. Episode 3 a sequel to the sequel, that were sequels to the first three was a good movie.
I really enjoyed both Transformers movies as action fest but neither was a great movie and the sequel was no better than the first.
Gremlins 2? seriously?
I'd replace them with Die Hard 2, Mad Max 2 and Bourne, all of them were even better than the original
So my 10 would be in reverse order
10 - Star Trek Wraith of khan (though does the new reboot count? best Star Trek by far)
9 - Die hard 2
8 - Bourne 2
7 - Pirates of the carribean 2
6 - superman 2
5- dark Knight
4 - Aliens
3 Empire Strikes Back
2 - Judgement day -Better than even the great first film
1 Godfather
Worst sequel -Blues Brothers 2000 WTF were they thinking.

Schembri note: Great list. And given how great Blues Brothers was, why did they bother with that terrible sequel? Mad Max 2 is probably the most glaring omission from that list. Yet I included Transformers 2. What was I thinking? Somebody call a shrink.

Posted by: Reece on April 30, 2010 4:37 PM

Wrath of Khan was an even numbered Star Trek film. They are the good ones, it is the rule of Star Trek films :-)

*Anything* following The Phantom Menace was going to be better than the Phantom Menace, being better than The Phantom Menace doesn't actually mean that it is good though, unless it could surgically remove Jar Jar Binks from your memory.

Schembri note: Just like the Ewoks, they ought to make some kid-friendly Jar Jar adventures. Re the Star Trek numerical theory - I disagree. I thought the first ST:TNG film was much better than the lame-o sequel, and Search for Spock was a terrific film. I don;'t think that popular theory holds up under scrutiny. Love Trek, though. I just acquired the double-disk DVD of Star Trek: the Motion Picture. Man, the troublwe I went to! Had no idea it was so damned hard to find!

Posted by: William on April 30, 2010 4:49 PM

I'd add to that list 'For A Few Dollars More' and 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', both superior films to 'A Fistful of Dollars'.

Ummmm...Matrix Reloaded wasnt too bad.
Also, (not a big scale movie but..) Bad Boys 2 I thought was better than the first one..
Again not a big scale movie but I thought Final Destination 2 was better..
I guess u only considering the high grossing movies..but great list though!

Schembri note: No, the list wasn't based on box office at all, though in some cases - as in Tran2 - the success was a measure of the sequel's sureness of touch. And, yeah. Matrix Reloaded was a GREAT seuqel.

Posted by: xyz on April 30, 2010 6:29 PM

Jimmy me lad,
Interesting list, though I can't agree with all of it. Never seen Trannies 2, having found the first one a bit of a kinetic yawn. And the Star Wars prequels were for me a disappointment on pretty much every level. (Yeah, I know, a sweeping statement. Sorry. Maybe I was the wrong generation, or the wrong demographic, or even simply wrong.)

The other one on your list that I personally don't understand all the hoo-hah about is Terminator 2. Heresy, I know. But I hated the kid, was irritated by Ahhhnuuuld, and felt that the movie was largely an overblown remake of the original. I would go so far as to say that T2 is an example of what can happen to a movie when it gets *too much* money and *too free* a hand, and its director tries to do too much for a weak story to hold together -- to me it's a collage of generally over-long set pieces strung together around a general plot theme, and not a great piece of storytelling.

But maybe that's just me.

Schembri note: James Cameron cvertainly wasn;t wqnting for dosh on T2. It had a huge production budget of about $90 million. And I'll never live down my love for Tranny2.

Posted by: Bran on April 30, 2010 6:46 PM

"My Quality Sequels that Rock II"

'BrendanB' great call on the sequels that should never have been spawned, but including "Predator 2" in that list, I protest.

Stephen Hopkins foray into Pred-land was highly entertaining. I'm with you Jim, this film rocks!!!

I love the opening sequence with Danny G. driving his police car into the war zone by hanging behind the driver's door to take out the 'bad guys' - terrific action sequence, loved the slo-mo and the Robert Davi cameo.

And then there's Hudson, er Jerry, AKA Bill Paxton, offering up his jockeys for a physical exam, what's not to love - pure gold!!

I left off "Bride of Frankenstein" & "Spiderman 2" from my original missive, great to see 'nitin' gave both these films their due kudos & respect - but ... must vehemently disagree with the inclusion of "Batman Returns" in quality sequel list, 2nd worst Batmovie ever!!!!

Just barely shaved in 'bad- battyness' by George Clooney as BananaBatman, [trust me, - Google 'Bananaman' and compare jaw lines and you'll see what I mean] in "Batman & Robin".

I also loved "The Bourne Ultimatum" - a little better than "Supremacy", but what the hell's the deal with Robert Ludlum these days - you'd think the guy didn't care about the life of Jason Bourne anymore?

Hey, 'Sarunas', don't really care about the other sequels but please, please no "Magnolia 2" - "Magnolia" is such a great film, Tom Cruise at his finest, no more need be said.

A lasting travesty has to be "Escape from L.A." - what was 'Snake' thinking, what am I saying, surely no thought went into making it at all!!!

I'll barely forgive you Jim for dissing "Superman 2", (but did you know that James Cameron did the storyboards for this film - hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?)

Now you must come clean. I bet you loved "Superman 4 - Quest for Peace" - tell us what you really think!

GhostSwirv over and out of my mind for not mentioning "Jewel of the Nile" - surely a limp attempt to cash in on a sure fire hit of "Romancing the Stone".

Gotta go - Just heard the magic words from "Mrs Swirv" - dinner in front of television ... has anyone seen the cat?

Schembri note: Bride of Frankenstein is arguably more famous than the original. good call. You know what other film I should have included, at least as an honourable mention? The Color of Money. 26 years after The Hustler. Great film.

Posted by: GhostSwirv on April 30, 2010 7:48 PM

So can the third in a trilogy count as a sequel to the second?

Anyway, even though many disagree, I liked the Pirates sequels even though the first was definitely the best.

And I'll echo earlier post about Back to the Future - just read an interview with Bob Gale andd Zemeckis where they say they never planned any sequel until after the movie was a hit - the first was meant to stand alone, the final shot notwithstanding.

Glad you included Gremlins 2 - always been one of my favourite movies.

And the LOTR trilogy of course got better with each film.

I think the new Gladiator sequel, "Robin Hood", looks like it could be pretty awesome.

Schembri note: Funny Robin Hood gag. The great thing about B2TF is that it hangs as one narrtative, the way Star Trek 2,3 and 4 do.

Posted by: Ben Pobjie on April 30, 2010 8:57 PM

Transformers 2?

At first I thought it was a typo and that you really meant to include it on your list of sequels not to see but alas you have continued to express your appreciation of the film.

Was the "twaddle" rating I gave it wrong?..should I risk losing another 1.5 hours of my life and watch it again?

Terminator 2 - One thing I have always felt is that this is a sequel better than the original.....the list of films like that would be short!

Schembri note: Be warned. Tranny2 is 2.4 hours long, not 1.5! No, it wasn't a typo and y Yes, I will forever be lambasted for my fandom of that crazy OTT film. I mean it though. I think it's a weird landmark, of sorts.

Posted by: Alicia Brooks on May 2, 2010 1:27 PM

Posted by: Ben Pobjie on April 30, 2010 8:57 PM

"I think the new Gladiator sequel, "Robin Hood", looks like it could be pretty awesome."

Heh, I've been calling it 'Gladiator In Tights'. The trailer looks *so* much like the early scenes in Gladiator.

Technically it was a Richard Donner film first, and then Richard Lester after creative differences forced Donner to leave after nearly completing the film - most of what you see on Lester's film was filmed by Donner.
Donner later (for DVD re-release) found and re-cut his own version of Superman 2, which has been referenced a few times - and I will gladly say I am fan of it on par with the Lester cut, and at times surpasses it and makes it a true companion piece to Superman 1, as intended.
PS Hannibal is a sequel if you consider it 3rd in the series, which it is.

Lethal Weapon 2 was in my opinion not as good as the 'noir in colour'appeal of the original but it injected humour into a series which could have effotrlessly descended onto crappy self parody.

Is it heresy to say that Terminator 2 is the only James Cameron movie I've watched?

Schembri note: No, it;s not. But you must see Aliens and Titanic. And the original. Then the Abyss and True Lies. Then Piranha II: The Spawning. Then Avatar.

Posted by: Wolfe Tone on May 3, 2010 4:59 PM

people are actually rating Superman 2?

It was atrocious. And yes I have seen the Richard Donner Cut (in fact saw it two weekends ago) and while it is better than the original Lester campfest, it is very inconsistent in tone and has its own moments of stupidty (toilet flush in fortress of solitude anyone?).

No comparison to the far superior first one. And at the risk of being stoned and ridiculed, I much prefer Singer's Superman Returns despite the crap acting from almost all involved. Tonally, its far superior to any cut of Superman 2.

Schembri note: And a big THANK YOU for this. Totally agree. I thought Supe2 was kinda bad and had some very sucky effects - including a studio light that moves BEHIND the earth!

Posted by: nitin on May 3, 2010 5:14 PM

Gratuitous list:
Sequels that weren't as good as their originals, but weren't bad, and great if you're in the right mood.

*Jaws 2 - great soundtrack and the shark eats a helicopter; so there.
*Predator 2 - quite underrated, and I'm not alone in this.
*Halloween II (1981 version) - flawed but worthy follow up, not as terrible as everyone makes it out to be; the Rob Zombie H2, however, I can understand why it wasn't very well received.
*Creepshow 2 - much of the acting was cheesy, but there were some genuinely chilling (and fun) moments in this one.
*Return of the Fly - for making an effort and being innovative; and for that matter,
*The Fly II (you're being generous, George).
*The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 - Dennis Hopper vs. Leatherface, that's why! Plus Tom Savini's effects.
*Critters 2 - about on par with the first, plus the scene where the Critter ball runs over the guy and leaves him as bones is hilarious.
*U.S. Marshals - not quite The Fugitive, but stands out on its own with some great action scenes; you gotta love RDJ as the bent agent.
*A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors - just ignore the awful Freddy's Revenge and go straight to the true successor to the classic original; the last Nightmare film that held onto Freddy's darkness before turning him into a complete joke (barring New Nightmare, I thought that brought back the original's feel). Plus it had the series' best ad-lib: "Welcome to prime time, bitch!"

Well 'Attack of the Clones' sucked less than 'Phantom Menace', but that's not saying much. Neither of them were particularly good films.

And why the love for 'Revenge of the Sith'?? That movie was the ultimate insult to every fan. The entire saga built up to this one plot point, and what did we get?

"Come and join the Dark Side, Anakin!"

"No...I must tell the Jedi Council"

"Join the Dark Side!"

"No..no....I mustn't..."

"Now come on, join the Dark Side!"

"Oh, okay then."

Schembri note: Award-winning dialogue.

Posted by: Marcus on May 3, 2010 6:07 PM

They never made a sequel to Condorman, which I think was a shame - we'll never know what Harry whispered to him in the last scene.

Schembri note: This is the Disney film with Michael Crawford, yeah? Worth seeing?

Posted by: Ben Pobjie on May 3, 2010 8:40 PM

Someone mentioned earlier about wanting to see a Who Framed Roger Rabbit sequel. This is actually in the works now, but it wont just be a blend of live action and 2D animation. Obviously they'll be thorwing in some CG as well. Apparently the hold up is settling on how much of the animation will be 2D and how much will be CG (Personally I'd prefer to see no CG at all).

Schembri note: With you.

Posted by: Tim on May 4, 2010 8:44 AM

I do like that you said WHY you added Star Wars Attack of the Clones - the action and pace. If you hadn't I might've thought that you were including the film as a whole - as in including the highly fast-forwardable romance parts.
Will now read all the posts...

Schembri note: It still surprises me that people don't seen to read the rationales provided. It is tiring to read all the "WHY?" and "HOW COULD YOU?" remarks only to tell them to go back and read the reasons. Sheesh.

Posted by: Raida on May 4, 2010 12:17 PM

I would like to add the Scream Trilogy - written as a slasher trilogy, the plot based on people who watch slasher films, the films also being slasher films themselves, and working on the rules stated about slasher films in the films themselves... uh where was I? Oh yeah - all three Scream films work as slasher films individually, and the set worked as a trilogy - on purpose, kind of to poke fun at the slasher genre. It was designed to work as a slasher trilogy, and it did. Goal? Achieved.
I'd like to also propose the Blade trilogy - written by one guy, but the three very different directors making each of the films completely different to each other. The first (Stephen Norrington) was cold, blue, steel, bright lights, high contrast, city, money, slinky shiny clothes, straight lines, science... The second (Guillermo del Toro) was dank, dark, things in jars, yellow, heavy furry clothes, stone, horror, historical... The third (directed by the writer of all three David S. Goyer, who gave his cast a lot of free reign as to how the characters turned out) was gritty, bouncy, cool, funny. All three films are very different, and all work individually in different ways, and all three work together as a long plot.

Schembri note: You're cheating a bit here, whacking in a whole trilogy. But we're not Nazis.

Posted by: Raida on May 4, 2010 12:34 PM

First port of call: "Prequels". If Silence of the Lambs doesn't make it as a sequel because in 'real-life' chronology it was made before Red Dragon, then surely the schlock that was Episode I can only be considered a sequel to Return of the Jedi, which itself bordered on schlock anyway. As RotJ itself was a sequel, surely AotC and associated garbage can only be classed as sequels-of-sequels, as later parts of a 'series'. Apparently, 'Interquel' is the correct term.

Empire is the sequel worth mentioning, particularly because of its vast superiority to the original and anything else that lately attempted to extricate some more liquid gold from that particular brand.

Destination: If, in all my years of movie-going, I could engineer a sequel of genuine value that guaranteed something akin, or superior, to that first experienced in the original (as in, Empire or Aliens or Godfather Part II - and as NOT in, Return of the Jedi), then my vote would be Se7en. As a David Fincher aesthete, I will very, very generously overlook the throwaway comments previously made in regard to Alien3 and move forward. It's all about the love, apparently. Aesthetics be damned.

The problem is, what do they call it? Ei8ht? Or, perhaps N9ne (think about it)? One struggles to comprehend how to replace the formidable talents of one Kevin Spacey, and the ruination of Mills would be hard to bounce back from if the star-power of the original was to be replicated, and I really can't imagine it at all without Morgan Freeman's cynical commentary and that wonderful, calm voice of his.

As for the story, obviously the Sins themselves have already been thoroughly explored, so some witty tie-in with another digit might be appropriate. *sigh* It will never happen.

P.S. I'll add my voice to the worth of the Wrath of Khan. Great film. I've always had a thing for intelligent villains who aren't afraid to let loose an antiquated refrain like, "to the last, I will grapple with thee". Great stuff!

P.S.2. Get ready for another bitch-slap re: RotF. Same as RotJ. Talentless crud. I've seen the previews, which seems like most of the plot (despite the running time), and they alone made me feel stupider. See! The mere recollection has stunted my vocabulary.

P.S.3. Letters from Iwo Jima as a (yet) unmentioned sequel? Surely that rates a mention, at least. Classic companion piece, speaks back to the original, yet follows in an original direction; as far as the film goes, superbly crafted, moving, extremely well acted and highly nuanced. Also, subtle... which I notice is an aspect relatively absent from the films you've mentioned in your "Top" 10. It's not a terrible list by any means, but it could do with some work, in my opinion.

P.S.4. What's your opinion on a film such as Fire Walk With Me; a 'sequel' to a television series (chronologically) that is, in effect, a 'prequel'? Does the TV element satisfy the precursor to make it either?

Schembri note: I've only got one thing to say to all this: Khaaaaaaaaaaaan!

Posted by: Vevnos on May 4, 2010 1:40 PM

Jim, Empire and GF Part II were, rightly, the top of your list. Any griping about what made it to number 10 is just pedantry and sheer (if justified) refusal to allow mindless tripe into any kind of Top 10.

The cream of your list is just that; the cream. Just because there's a few curdled bits toward the end doesn't spoil that luscious first taste.

There's your bone!

Schembri note: You see, I don't think the claim Tranny2 is mindless tripe holds up. It's not Shakespeare, but it knows what it's doing.

Posted by: Vevnos on May 4, 2010 2:08 PM

Oh yeah, and Die Hard! My favourite film(s). However, if I watched 2, 3, 4 and thought each one was a GREAT sequel, getting better and better with each successive film... But then you watch the original again and it's just so YEAH! HELLLLLL YEAH. I can't ever pick my favourte. it's 1. no, 4. wait... 3. no, 1! 4!!! argh argh argh....
X-Men 2 - plenty of things in this pissed me off (plot-wise and mythology-wise), but the sequence with Wolverine being the only adult in the mansion with the soldiers come? That was pure Wolverine, exactly what we wanna see. plus Nightcrawler's White House scene. :]

LachyW - which film do you mean by Hulk 2? I like The Hulk (Bana) a lot (particularly the very comi-book feel to the film, with the colouring and panels and the credits oh wow those credits I love), but I also like The Incredible Hulk (Norton) a lot. Is this one the one you mean? 'cos it's not a sequel.
oh sequ1, you are so right about Red Dragon! That is a great film, all the way through - especially the opening :D
Oh Dan Ashcroft you don't like Escape from LA? O_o
I'm trying to not repeat other people's suggestions, but hell yeah George - Desperado is a great sequel.
buc, what was wrong with the original Alien movie? (and it hasn't aged at all, except for the single piece of effects with the cyborg speaking, and I suppose the chunky glowing computer text. Saw it at the GoMA Cinemateque not long ago)
Sorry Jim, I haven't seen Superman2, so I can't help you out. But I have seen both Transformers movies, and neither is a great film. Which is fine - they're movies based on a cartoon based on a toy that wasn't even American. However, I think the first film is better. Both are great fun to watch! :D

Schembri note: You probably need to see Supe2, just to say you've seen it. I love that sentence.

Posted by: Raida on May 4, 2010 4:25 PM

Gladiator: Men In Skirts

(works for Braveheart as well)

Schembri note: And Rob Roy.

Posted by: Lulu on May 4, 2010 5:17 PM

All is not lost. I will side with you on Transformers2,.....but consider and fear the coming of "Mama Mia..the divorce". Its surely gotta happen. I truly hope it does just to read of the fear and loathing in Cinetopia. Now to email my good f(r)iend "Professor Fate" and arrange it all just for you Jim (Pause for evil grin and sniggers) Enjoy!

Jim, Jim, Jim, I don't want to sound picky or anything but with less than a hundred responses to your Top Ten Sequels List, plus another 50 odd can-opening "Iron Man 2" you're really letting the CineTopian team down controversary-wise-guise!!!

All this muttering & tut-tuttering about 'Catherine D' has pushed the envelope beyond 668 comments and counting and I'm wondering if you've got the stuffing to hit upon a Top Ten List that will surely drag the 'punters' into CineTopia-World in a rapid-fire maelstrom of biblical proportions?

Make it bold, make it striking, make it devastatingly banal - but whatever you do don't make it about "Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen" - I'm so over bagging you for that that I need a tweet with flavour.

I know you can do it Jim, enrage, engorge, engage the masses - we all wait with quivering fingertips ready to leap into the forge of destiny and set a new "Age" record for social commentary, just give us a mighty reason to cry out with alarm.

GhostSwirv over and out and oh one last thing - no cheap shots about underage animal trainers, dead people or Mirandrew Dolt - let's try and be 'Sibyl'.

Schembri note: Yeah, if it's all the same we're gonna stick to what we love and not get sidetracked into all that. BTW, the count is well up on all those stories, comment wise. We're still getting through them. Wow, we love this. Great responses. And, no, I'll NEVER be forgiven for Tranny2. I've accepted that now.

Posted by: GhostSwirv on May 5, 2010 1:27 PM

Jim, Jim, Jim.... I cheered when I saw the first half of your list, with the incomparable Godfather 2, Terminator 2, Aliens, Empire etc. And then you got to Attack of the Clones, and I had to trawl the darkest recesses of my memory to see if this was indeed the Star Wars prequel with the nausea inducing romance subplot... and indeed it was. Sorry Jim, instant fail. As bad bad bad as Menace was, Clones managed to be marginally worse thanks to the predictable and trite love story between Anakin and Padme. We know they have to fall in love, otherwise we won't have Luke and Leia and episodes 4, 5 and 6! Bleh!

And then you had to do it didn't you? You had to go and nominate Transformers 2. You know that I and the many of the other Cinetopians have the highest respect for your sometimes controversial views, but this has me wondering if someone at The Age has been spiking your coffee. Any movie that coins an entire new definition of porn as this one did (Army Porn, if you recall), without intending to be a porn film, is not, by definition, a good movie. While I'm sure there are a large number of excellent sequels to porn movies out there, producing a popcorn porn sequel to a popcorn action flick does not a good popcorn sequel make. Sorry. And I'm going to nitpick and say that it's unfair to slap TDK for being too long when Tranny 2 went for nearly 3 hours. At least TDK had a coherent plot! I do applaud your vigorous and determined defence of your choice though *high five*.

My favourite sequels have already been mentioned by many others, but I have to vote for Before Sunset as one of the most underrated sequels ever, and a wonderful film. It gave me epic warm fuzzies and made me cry at the same time. That's some talented filmmaking.

GhostSwirv, in response to your lament about what Robert Ludlum is doing to poor Jason Bourne, the answer is nothing. Mr Ludlum passed away in 2001, and his estate has been churning out books under his byline by other authors ever since. Eric Van Lustbader has written all the Bourne books post the Bourne Ultimatum. To his credit he insisted on them being marketed as Eric Van Lustbader writing about Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, rather than as a ghost writer and maintaining the fiction that Ludlum had all these unpublished manuscripts floating around. Hope that helps! She_Jedi = Fount of Useless Trivia :)

Schembri note: Magnificent tirade/list. I have to accept that I shall NEVER be forgiven for my inclusion of Tranny2 o n this list - but it stays for the reasons explained. I am convinced that cinema archaeologists in the far future will refer back to that film as a symbolic embodiment of what good cash-in sequels do. And, you know what? It's an enjoyable film!

Posted by: she_jedi on May 6, 2010 12:03 AM

To add fuel to the fire of controversy as per a previous comment, I can honestly say that the best sequel to a movie ever - and I mean EVER - was Honey, I Blew Up The Kid.
There, I said it. How do you beat shrinking your kids? You make your toddler giant, and you make him play guitar with a Hard Rock Cafe sign.
I dare ANYBODY to disagree with me!

Schembri note: You know that the key to the plot was using the bottom of a soft drink bottle as a lens, don't you? Actually, I like the Raiders of the Lost Ark gag in that film.

Posted by: Me on May 6, 2010 3:25 PM

And the first one was a baseball.

I don't blame anyone for not liking the third, even if Mila Kunis was in it.

That bothered me as well.
Palpatine should have sweetened the deal more.
"Come to the Dark Side; we have puppies!"

"Oh, ok! A-ha ha!"

I'm on caffeine.

Schembri note: "We have puppies that feed on these tall blue people from a place call Pandora. You know that Death Star thing we're building? Not giving away Imperial secrtets, but if you own real estate on Pandora, sell up soon as you can."

Posted by: George on May 6, 2010 4:32 PM

Ah, but they didn't get to destroy Panodra - they only got as far as Aldaran.
Your argument is invalid.

Yeah, but that doesn't work, as theirs was a galaxy far, far away, whereas Pandora was on the other end of ours.
I mean, they can't very well keep their galaxy in order if they go off halfway across the universe to a territory they likely don't even know about and terrorize a people who have no knowledge of them.
Or maybe they might. No wonder they lost to the Rebellion, they couldn't get their priorities straight!
Still, for those who had property on Pandora, looks like resale wasn't an issue in the end!

Schembri note: My take is that after the Empire sees Avatar, they'll travel across the universe to total Pandora just to prevent a sequel. (Jim, you bee-yotch!)

Posted by: George on May 6, 2010 5:31 PM

"Shirley you jest she_jedi?"

What Robert Ludlum dead??!!!?? - I haven't believed that fictional storyline since I read the galleys to 'The Bourne Capitulation' in 1963.

Methinks it is jest a fiendish plot by Ludlum's management to avoid paying income tax, I'm sure he's still with us.

Tell me have you recently seen Robert Ludlum, dressed in a matching strapless two-piece and Eric Van Lustbader wearing pin-stripe ninja garb in the same hemisphere together - I think not!!!!

Ergo I believe Robert L. has surrepticiously despatched Eric V. L. in the library, with a gold-plated poker [with a silencer attached], then stolen Eric's identity, falsfied his own death, gone deep undercover, dodged a school of herring with a howitzer and re-surfaced only to re-publish 'Bourne goes to visit Grandma - with a vengeance'.

As for you Jim and your penchant for sequelitis dare I throw another few juicy morsels in your general direction?

GhostSwirv over and out to visit the comedy on the TV side-kick channel. Lucky for Jim and us, that you do a lot of work in Radio.

Schembri note: Well, at least in the non-footy season! Re your sequel list, the one I would strongly defend is Godfather III. The rest are on the money, with Hook the mosy glaring example of a missed opportunity. Two Jakes was simply terrible. Rumour Has It was excrement, and Jennifer Aniston's worst film. How Shirley MacLaine got roped into it you'll have to explain to me. Still can't believe Rob Reiner directed it.

Re Ludlum. I know your mind. I still can't accept that Paul Newman is dead.

Posted by: GhostSwirv on May 6, 2010 8:49 PM

Re: Roger Rabbit Sequel..

If CG is in it? I'm out.

well...thats not entirely true. Say for example the film's theme is about the disparity between traditional Cel-animated characters and new CG stars, then I wouldn't be adverse to seeing Woody and Buzz running around somewhere in the film.

HOWEVER

If CG is used to model props or interactions with the human actors, im out.

In the original Roger Rabbit, theres a pelican who rides a bicycle. You know how they did it? They filled the tires with air and water, and rolled that sucker across the screen on its own! Add one animated pelican and you have gold!

Roger Rabbit is, and always will be one of my most favourite films.
Speaking of bike riding, I nominate the Great Muppet Caper and Muppets Take Manhattan for great sequels! I defy you not to feel like a kid again when you see the cast of the muppet show ride bikes in The Great Muppet Caper. just magical.

Schembri note: A good film. I recall director Frank Oz discussing how he needed the group dynamic to be threatened in that film. Re Roger, it's certainly a live action/animation classic. (I still like Pete's Dragon!). As for a sequel, Robert Zemeckis would embrace CGI with a passion given his pioneering work with Forrest Gump, Polar Express etc. But I think you're right - he'd use it in an analogue-digital showdown sort of deal.

Posted by: Symon on May 7, 2010 9:23 AM

Yes, with Michael Crawford!

I don't know if it's worth seeing...I'm always hesitant to recommend movies because I know people might hate what I love. Oh, it's probably not that good and I'm coloured by nostalgia because it was the first movie I ever saw at the drive-in...but I find Condorman a lot of fun. It's got an awesome transforming car and Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed and a story about a comic book geek trying to become a real-life superhero nearly 30 years before Kick Ass.

And it should have had a sequel because the final scene is the most blatant sequel set-up in history. Pity nobody went to see it.

Oh, and the main character draws a comic called "Gopher Boy Meets Hannibal Smith".

Before the A-Team too.

Schembri note: I've got to hunt this down. Is this the movie with the three black Porsches?

Posted by: Ben Pobjie on May 7, 2010 11:39 AM

The sequel to Se7en would be T10en. Ten Commandments.

The prequel would be 5ive, where Spacey hones his skills by offing boy bands.

And I beg to differ with those who criticise AotC on the basis of the "romantic subplot". Tragically, it wasn't a subplot - it was the whole point of the movie, which was a shame.

It's funny, when I first saw Clones I thought, way better than Phantom Menace, but since then my little boy got heavily into Star Wars and I got to rewatch all of them repeatedly, and I think Menace got kind of a bad rap. It suffers from dullness, but in a way it's admirable from George Lucas that he was making an attempt to actually ground his fantasy in something resembling real life - a trade federation, taxation, a blockade. He obviously wanted to give the Star Wars conflict some kind of proper reason to start it all.

And...it didn't really work, unfortunately. But I don't think it's as bad as people say. Some good bits, and I like Neeson in it. Jar Jar's horrible of course, and the main problem is it lacks genuine character. There's no real sense of who any of these people are - except maybe Qui-Gon.

Anyway...Revenge of the Sith is way better than either because it's got a genuinely dramatic atmosphere and because the Ep 3 character of Anakin suits the sulky brooding of Christensen much better than the Ep 2 character, who's supposed to be a dashing, charismatic golden boy maverick but is just whiny and petulant and really, impossible to imagine any grown woman falling for.

Anyway.

Also, the Meg/Kunis disparity is striking, but to be fair, we should note the huge discrepancy between Mila's attractiveness and that of almost everyone.

Schembri note: The first revelation was a glimpse of her on one of the Famnily Guy DVDs. After watching her steal scenes in Forgetting Sarah Marshall it became pretty clear she wasn't going to be doing voice work the rest of her career! It's hard for a woman to be that pretty and that funny. Re Phantom Menace - creaky as it was, it did give us the lovely line "There's always a bigger fish". Thank you, Liam. Re prewuels - what about Thr3e, where we see what Spacey was like as a toddler, cleverly engineering the demise of unlikeable babysitters. Homicide Detective: "We've got no idea who could have done this. The only other person in the house at the time was the kid." CUT TO shot of mini-Spacey reading a Golden Book.

Posted by: Ben Pobjie on May 7, 2010 11:50 AM

"Schembri note: I've got to hunt this down. Is this the movie with the three black Porsches?"

Wait a momento ... somethings happening down the back of the crevice on the right, involving a MUSCLY CHICKEN cruisin'on a PURPLE HARLEY - up above a LONE BE-SPECTACLED FIGURE wanders purposefully about, torchlight leading their way ... dribbling burnt popcorn and cracked 3D glasses in their wake.

LONE FIGURE: "There's gotta be a way outta here".

Said the critic to the beef.

Suddenly ... back in CineTopia

Well Jim, Godfather III may not be the worst sequel ever, but for my mind, er sorry, in my humble opinion it just didn't seem anywhere near the calibre of the first two movies.

I do like Andy Garcia but I really didn't care to know what happened to Michael Corleone in the contemporary world, for moi it just didn't verk.

Much the same way the George Lucas tried to explain too much stuff with Ep. 1 - he told us where the 'force' comes from?!!!!

Hello, it's mysterious and strange and powerful, but now Qui-Gon has a do-hicky that measures forcenessness - that was a cosmic shark jump for me - way more than Jar Jar's excremental extremities.

For me it ranks right down there with Darth doing a Shatner-Kirk-Khan squeal when he cries out 'nooooooooooooo' at the end of Sith.

Hey ... here's a thought, [ you probably saw its birth on your way out Jim] what if George Lucas turned over the rebooting of the 'Star Wars' franchise for Eps. 7, 8 & 9 to Michael Bay?

The thrilling interweaving stories of Han Solo & Leia's octuplets as they fight their way across the galaxy, rescuing alien societies from 2nd-rate CGI outfits and armies of used-clone door to door salesmen.

GhostSwirv really over and out - but seriously - once on a visit to Los Angeles in the early 90's I think I saw Paul Newman on the Warner Bros. backlot, production guide said it was him, asked us not to disturb his privacy.

Sometimes I wish I had shaken his hand but mostly I'm glad I didn't piss him off, he was one classy guy.

Schembri note: I still can't accept that he's gone. Re the rest of your rant - what brand of coffee do you drink? And where can I get some?

Posted by: GhostSwirv on May 8, 2010 6:59 PM

A very late comment! I have made it to the ripe old age of 36 without ever seeing any of The Godfather movies. As it happens I was home sick on Friday and they were showing all 3 on Foxtel so I settled in with my crumpets and tea to watch at least the first two.

WOW, how remiss of me to have never seen these! I have a terribly short attention span so it is a testament to the storytelling and acting that I sat still for 6 hours to watch the first two.

I agree that G2 was superb and lent richness and depth to the first story with all the background information, also to watch the evolution (or devolution) of Michael as he grows in to the family business.

Though what was with the bruise on his cheek in the first movie, that seemed to hang around for an awfully long time, either that or he got married very quickly!

Anyway, waiting for a rainy day to watch Part 3 now, I taped that, even sick 10 hours on the couch is a big ask.

Schembri note: Very good news. and you saw it on TV, not in a big screen, so it's certainly a testament to how compelling the film is. Re The Bruise - it's the one the corrupt cop Captain McCluskey (Sterling Hayden) gives him after Michael saves his father's life in the hospital. Yeah, it stuck around for a long time - as bruises tend to do! BTW, don't you love that anonymous guy who helps Michael in the hospital? "If there is trouble I will help you. For your father. For your father." Man, imagine the brownie points that would have earnt him.

Posted by: Em on May 10, 2010 1:52 PM

"It's huge popularity counts for something and, again, highlights the disconnect that often exists between film reviewers and normal people."

Jim, you are such a ulitiltarian ;-) And why should critics opinions be aligned with the normal viewing going public? The whole point is to set standards, and create expectations based on those standards. Film criticism, in that sense, is as vital as any other sort of criticism.

But i disgress:

Underrated sequels: Flying High 2, Naked Gun 2+3. Not as good as the original installments, but still damn funny nonetheless.

Schembri note: You know, I'll just come out and say this. I didn't mind Stayin' Alive. Agree with you re Flying High 2 and the Naken Gun sequels. OJ Simpson's finest moments (not counting the Cassandra Crossing, of course.)

Posted by: bios on May 10, 2010 11:23 PM

I love your reviews, Jim. They make an excellent emergency substitute for toilet paper.

Schembri note: Babe, this chestnut only worked in the pre-digital age before the internet. It doesn't work with online film reviews as it suggests you read a review, then print it out and then use the harsh, non-absorbant printer paper as toilet paper. It's pretty gross. A better joke would be:

I love your reviews, Jim. They make an excellent emergency substitute for Epsom Salts.

Feel frede to use it. No charge.

Posted by: Jonathan Awesome on May 11, 2010 2:11 AM

How about a top 10 list of remakes we didn't need, starting with Robin Hood ...

Schembri note: A great suggestion, Sir Ruff. It's on the Top Tern list of Top Tens we should do.

Posted by: The Ruff One on May 11, 2010 1:00 PM

Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers.

Who can argue with that as a sequel?

Schembri note: Who can argue with that as a great piece of animated entertainment. A classic by any measure. And the first honest portrayal of penguins.

Posted by: Simon Clement on May 12, 2010 12:29 PM

RE: Mila Kunis,
According to Seth Green, she is a big player of World of Warcraft, and is competition for even the most addicted types. Ergo, she is pretty, funny, and a nerd's dream goddess on so many levels.
Mine too.

Schembri note: Here's hoping she sticks around long enough to have a career.

Posted by: George on May 12, 2010 1:17 PM

Schembri note: Re The Bruise - it's the one the corrupt cop Captain McCluskey (Sterling Hayden) gives him after Michael saves his father's life in the hospital. Yeah, it stuck around for a long time - as bruises tend to do!

Once again the Jedi fount of useless trivia comes to the fore. In the novel of The Godfather Michael's cheekbone is broken in that incident with Captain McCluskey, and it takes months and months to heal and gives him quite a few problems. I watched the movie, found the book a couple of years later, then watched the movie again after reading the book, and was struck by the attention to detail in bringing the book to life on the screen. The bruise makes little sense to anyone who's not read the novel, but it's there and totally true to the novel, and be damned to the movie audiences who may get confused by it. If only modern movies were as detail focused :)

Posted by: she_jedi on May 13, 2010 12:13 AM

One more to add - The Rescuers Down Under. I loved that film as a kid.